TS Barry makes landfall in Mexico

Barry may bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides

June 20, 2013

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm was about 40 miles northwest of Veracruz as of 11 a.m. EDT Thursday and heading west a 5 mph. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the southern coast of Mexico from Punta el Lagarto to Tuxpan.

The storm is expected to bring the risk of “life-threatening “ flash flooding and mudslides, the NHC said. Hurricane specialist Lixon Avila advised that up to 10 inches could hit some parts of southern Mexico warns that flash flooding and mudslides are possible, especially in the mountainous areas.

Tropical storm force winds were spreading outward up to 80 miles east from the center of the system.

Veracruz state Civil Protection Secretary Noemi Guzman said 2,000 shelters had been readied in the state with mattresses, blankets, water and canned food, according to weather.com. The port of Veracruz was closed to small vessels because of the strong winds, Guzman added.

Barry was expected to move slowly west over land before weakening.

“Although Barry will continue to weaken and dissipate into a remnant low, it will remain a significant threat through the end of the week,” weather.com reported.

The storm had formed as a depression off the coast of Belize on Monday and began moving northward, dumping heavy rains of parts of that country and northern Guatemala before entering the Gulf of Mexico’s Bay of Campeche and strengthening somewhat over warm Gulf waters.